Philip Myers's akodont facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Philip Myers's akodont |
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The Philip Myers's akodont (Akodon philipmyersi) is a small mouse. It is also known as a grass mouse. This species was recently discovered in Misiones Province, Argentina. Like other grass mice, it is a small, brownish-grey mouse. It has ears that stand out. Scientists knew it was a new species because of its unique chromosomes, genes, skull shape, and overall body features.
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How It Got Its Name
This animal's scientific name, philipmyersi, honors a famous scientist. His name is Philip Myers. He is a mammal expert from the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. He also helped create the Animal Diversity Web. Philip Myers has done a lot of important work. He helped figure out how different types of Akodon mice are related.
What It Looks Like
The A. philipmyersi mouse has a small body. Its tail and legs are also small compared to other mice in its group. These mice have a special set of chromosomes. They have 36 chromosomes in total.
This mouse is different from its close relative, A. montensis. Their genes are about 11% different. A. montensis also has fewer chromosomes, only 24. Plus, A. montensis prefers to live in forests. A. philipmyersi likes grasslands.
Where It Lives and What It Does
The Philip Myers's akodont seems to like living in grasslands. It prefers areas with tall plants. Scientists have also found parts of these mice in owl pellets. Owl pellets are undigested food that owls spit up. This tells us that owls sometimes eat these mice.
How It's Related to Other Mice
Scientists think that A. lindberghi is the closest relative to A. philipmyersi. This idea is not super strong, but it is supported by some facts. Both mice have the same number of chromosomes (36). Also, their body shapes are similar. However, they are still different. Their body shapes are not exactly the same. Their genes are also different, by about 10%.
See also
In Spanish: Ratón jesuita para niños
